The Grand National Festival

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Ed Chamberlin introduces exclusive free to air coverage of the Randox Health Grand National live from Aintree.

ITV Racing’s coverage is the first time it has screened the race live from Aintree, and this year ITV will feature four support races in the build-up to the most famous event in racing, the Randox Health Grand National at 4.35pm on Saturday 8 April , concluding the three-day festival.

ITV Racing’s coverage will go behind the scenes at the course, featuring interviews with key figures including everyone from stable staff, trainers and owners through to the jockeys as well as racing legends, sampling the atmosphere in the grandstands, with pundits bringing an expert insight into the incredible challenge the course presents.

Joining Ed for expert analysis are former Grand National winners Sir AP McCoy (aboard Don’t Push it in 2010), and Mick Fitzgerald (on Rough Quest in 1996) along with Luke Harvey, with on-course reporting from Oli Bell and in the paddock with Alice Plunkett. Matt Chapman will have the latest betting news, and Brian Gleeson will provide expert analysis and an Irish angle on the action. Lucy Verasamy will provide weather forecasts, Victoria Pendleton will report from behind the scenes, and expert Eva O’Donoghue will give her views from a veterinary perspective. Richard Hoiles will be in the commentary box.

Additionally, former ITV Racing presenter Brough Scott returns to bring his analysis and unique perspective to the day.

With a full field of 40 set to go to post this year in the main race, ITV Racing’s coverage boasts a full support card with action including the Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle (2.25pm), The Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase (3.00pm), Betway Handicap Chase (3.40pm) and the Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle (4.20pm).

Alongside ITV’s coverage, an hour-long edition of The Opening Show, presented by Oli Bell, will air on ITV4 at 10am that morning to preview the day’s action.

ITV’s live coverage will also be simulcast on the ITV Hub, on web and app, for viewers to watch online, and our responsively designed ITV Racing site - itv.com/racing – helping bring the festival to life. You can also download the free ITV Racing app (iOS), which features a new version of the iconic ITV7 competition as well as the latest news and videos.

The ITV Racing Twitter account will feature clips during each of the channel’s broadcasts, and the ITV Racing Facebook page will feature daily Facebook Live broadcasts with Oli Bell and guests.

Unique footage from 360-degree cameras in key positions around the course will give social media users a new dimension with highlights of the major action from Grand National day. The footage, made available at the end of the festival via ITV's YouTube and Facebook accounts, is designed to allow viewers to immerse themselves in the top moments on and off the course.

Additionally, ITV will be showing the race live for the public to watch on giant screens in locations across London (Westfield, Eat Street), Liverpool (Media Wall), and Manchester (Printworks).

This year racing returned to ITV for the first time in 32 years, in a new four-year deal to show UK horse racing on terrestrial television encompassing live broadcasts of almost 100 days of racing each year - including 42 days on the main channel.

ITV’s racing calendar includes the Grand National, the Epsom Derby, and all the other major festivals including Cheltenham, Royal Ascot, the Five Classics, plus other highlights such as Future Champions Day at Newmarket and Champions Day at Ascot.